Viktor Orban at his polling station

 According to one exit poll, the main party in Hungary's ruling coalition, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's conservative Fidesz alliance, won 45.8 percent of votes and the main opposition Socialist Party polled 37.8 percent.

 The exit poll forecast is in line with a series of opinion polls in the weeks leading up to the ballot, which predicted Mr. Orban's victory. If the exit poll is right, Mr. Orban will become Hungary's first prime minister to be re-elected since the collapse of Communist in 1989.

 However, it is not clear if the Conservative Party can win enough votes to govern Hungary alone. There has been speculation that Mr. Orban could strike a power-sharing deal with the far-right Justice and Life Party, which is known for its anti-semitic and anti-foreigner statements and whose support could give him an outright majority in parliament.

 Analysts say such a move could unnerve financial markets and cause alarm in Brussels, as E.U. membership talks enter their final phase.

 A second round of voting will be held on April 21.
 
 

Some information for this report provided by DPA, Reuters and AFP.

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